Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurogenerative disease characterised by severe motor and non-motor symptoms. The prevalence of PD in the New Zealand is growing but is currently estimated to be 11,000, with the risk of PD increasing with age.

The root cause of PD is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors, toxin exposure, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, hypoxia, metabolic dysfunction, and ubiquitin–proteasome system dysfunction. The outcome is clusters of mis-folded proteins called Lewy bodies that cause serious damage to brain cells, especially dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) that project to the striatum.

 This damage is likely the cause of the severe motor symptoms (slow movement, muscle rigidity, tremors, posture problems) and non-motor symptoms (cognitive dysfunction, sleep issues, fatigue) that are characteristic of PD. The combination of these symptoms significantly decreases quality of life, especially the categories of physical function and mental health.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be beneficial for those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress, decrease neuroinflammation, and improve mitochondrial function.

In people with PD, oxidative stress contributes to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. The SN is the part of the brain involved in physical movement, so degeneration of these neurons can cause physical symptoms like tremors, slow movements, muscle stiffness and loss of automatic movements.

HBOT is known to decrease oxidative stress, which may help relieve neuronal damage and the resulting physical symptoms.

Oxidative stress also leads to dysregulation of the inflammatory response, which is associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.

HBOT upregulates defense mechanisms that help decrease neuroinflammation, therefore it may aid in reducing risk of PD disease progression. HBOT also improves mitochondrial function, something which is believed to be damaged in those with PD.